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J C asked in Science & MathematicsBiology · 1 decade ago

Atom sizes: Is an atom in a mosquito smaller than an atom in a human?

Are all atoms the same size. I.e. a mosquito atom is smaller than a human atom?

Similarly, are all molecules the same size?

7 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    All atoms of a certain element are of equal size, regardless of where or what it comes from. For example, a carbon atom from a human would be the same as a carbon atom from a mosquito. Molecules, which are composed of two or more atoms, would also be the same size if they are the same. For example, the water in a human would be the same as the water in a mosquito (H2O).

  • 1 decade ago

    Atoms are classified by their atomic number (1 for hydrogen, 6 for carbon, 8 for oxygen, etc.) All atoms of the same atomic number are almost exactly the same size. Similarly, molecules are made up of varying types of atoms bonded together in various ways. All molecules made up of the same atoms bound together in the same way are the same size. So, a carbon atom in a mosquito is the same size as a carbon atom in a human, and a molecule of glucose (a kind of sugar) in a mosquito is the same size as a molecule of glucose in a human. The reason a mosquito is smaller than a human is because it has fewer atoms, not because it has smaller atoms.

  • 1 decade ago

    No, atoms are the same wherever they are found and in all living things by far the most abundant atoms are hydrogen, oxygen, carbon making up carbohydrates and fats whereas all proteins have in addition nitrogen.

    Molecules are different, they can be larger or smaller depending on how many atoms go into building them. They could contain anything from a few atoms to thousands of them and this applies to bacteria as much as for the higher forms of life. Smaller organisms just contain an overall smaller number of molecules.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    NOPE...all atoms are the same size! It's the number of atoms that differ. How do you know? Because the atomic weights/mass of each element is always the same! A carbon atom is a carbon atom...no matter what that carbon atom actually 'makes'. Same applies for molecules! Think about a drop of water compared with a lake...is the water molecule any different in size? Nope! Just more of them. Hope this helps!

    Source(s): Middle school science teacher
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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The atoms of a mosquito would be exactly the same size as a human's atoms, or more accurately I should say molecules. Mosquito's would just have allot less atoms then we do. As for your second question, it all depends on the molecule, Carbon Dioxide would have more mass then Carbon Monoxide. Carbon Dioxide would have two atoms of oxygen, and one carbon atom, whereas carbon monoxide would have one molecule of each. also, atoms vary in size and mass as well, hydrogen has one proton and one electron, and lead would have much more neutrons, electrons, and protons.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    there is no end. basically imagine of the opposite...that atom is so tiny compared to you. you're miniscule compared to Earth. a million Earths may in good structure contained in the solar. There are stars that are possibly a million circumstances the size of the solar. those stars are unfold out billions of miles for the time of area..and so on., and so on., and so on. i'm very on the threshold of checking right into a psychological wellbeing center on condition that i have been questioning about this. opt to come back alongside?

  • 1 decade ago

    An atom is an atom.

    There is no variation in size.

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